Crags and cliffs in Andalusia
Power of petrified nature – limited access and remarkable wildlife.
Andalusia is a mountainous region, where limestone mountain ranges abound and are characterized by their steep and rugged reliefs that offer abundant rocks, immense walls and canyons.
The verticality of this environment and the general lack of soil difficult establishment of vegetation on rocks. Those habitats are actually diverse depending on the bedrock (limestone, dolomites, siliceous) and degree of humidity (orientation, shade, water filtration).
The vegetation is generally scarce on rocks due to the verticality of the environment and to the minimum presence of soil. But there are some flora and, in fact, the Mediterranean rupicolous vegetation is quite diverse and enriched by the species found at the base of the wall (saxicol plants).
This situation favors the existence of endemic species, many of them of high conservation value. A spectacular exemple is that of the recently described Gadoria falukei. Also note the curious groves of dwarf palm trees (Chamaerops humilis) and wild olive trees (Olea europaea sylvestris) that literally hang from some cliffs.
Cliffs are inaccessible places and ideal nesting sites for for the large raptors: griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bonelli eagle (Aquila fasciata), bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). Rocky substrates host a specialized birdlife of passerines like blue rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius), black wheatear (Oenanthe leucura), redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) and crag martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris). It is also worthy to remember that many urban birds species have adapted to live in cities from their original rupiculous environments, This is the case of lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) or house martin (Delichon urbicum).
There are many steep cliffs in the young and limestone mountain ranges of Andalusia, here the spectacular Peñón del Berrueco.
The cliffs of the Guadiaro River Natural Monument are home to real hanging natural gardens of dwarf palms (Chamaerops humilis) and wild olive trees (Olea europaea sylvestris).
The Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) is an extraordinarily agile mammal at ease on any crags in Andalusia.
The high Mediterranean mountain of Sierra Nevada and its famous permanent lagoons (‘borregiles’).
Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) are true kings of the mountains, moving with great agility through these ecosystems and like no other mammal. Abundant populations near Ronda and Antequera.
The caves are numerous, especially in karstic environments, and host large populations of bats and invertebrates restricted to underground (hypogeal) conditions. Among cave bats, Schreiber’s bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) overwinters in groups of thousand of individuals.
Reptiles are also very abundant in rocky areas where they find plenty of hiding places between stones.
One of my fondest memories is seeing a huge flock of over 1,000 red-billed choughs in the Baza Mountains.
There are many steep cliffs in the young and limestone mountain ranges of Andalusia, here the spectacular Peñón del Berrueco.
Andalusia is a mountainous region, where limestone mountain ranges abound and are characterized by their steep and rugged reliefs that offer abundant rocks, immense walls and canyons.
The verticality of this environment and the general lack of soil difficult establishment of vegetation on rocks. Those habitats are actually diverse depending on the bedrock (limestone, dolomites, siliceous) and degree of humidity (orientation, shade, water filtration).
The cliffs of the Guadiaro River Natural Monument are home to real hanging natural gardens of dwarf palms (Chamaerops humilis) and wild olive trees (Olea europaea sylvestris).
The vegetation is generally scarce on rocks due to the verticality of the environment and to the minimum presence of soil. But there are some flora and, in fact, the Mediterranean rupicolous vegetation is quite diverse and enriched by the species found at the base of the wall (saxicol plants
This situation favors the existence of endemic species, many of them of high conservation value. A spectacular exemple is that of the recently described Gadoria falukei. Also note the curious groves of dwarf palm trees (Chamaerops humilis) and wild olive trees (Olea europaea sylvestris) that literally hang from some cliffs.).
The high Mediterranean mountain of Sierra Nevada and its famous permanent lagoons (‘borregiles’).
The cliffs are inaccessible places and ideal nesting sites for for the large raptors: griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bonelli eagle (Aquila fasciata), bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). Rocky substrates host a specialized birdlife of passerines like blue rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius), black wheatear (Oenanthe leucura), redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) and crag martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris). It is also worthy to remember that many urban birds species have adapted to live in cities from their original rupiculous environments, This is the case of lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) or house martin (Delichon urbicum).
The Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) is an extraordinarily agile mammal at ease on any crags in Andalusia.
Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) are true kings of the mountains, moving with great agility through these ecosystems and like no other mammal. Abundant populations near Ronda and Antequera.
The caves are numerous, especially in karstic environments, and host large populations of bats and invertebrates restricted to underground (hypogeal) conditions. Among cave bats, Schreiber’s bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) overwinters in groups of thousand of individuals.
Reptiles are also very abundant in rocky areas where they find plenty of hiding places between stones.
One of my fondest memories is seeing a huge flock of over 1,000 red-billed choughs in the Baza Mountains.
A typical griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) nest
Located on a narrow ledge halfway up a high limestone cliff, probably at the level of an old gallery or cave of the karstic model; formed by a large and coarse accumulation of twigs on the ground and only protected by the overhang; the rock walls stained with white guano, the surroundings of the nests grassed with nitrophilous plants. The adult watches over the chick to ensure thermoregulation, both mid-day heat and cold at night.
Blue Rock-Trushes in the rooftop
This species loves crags and any rocky substrate with plenty of verticality… No surprise it is doing so well in Serranía de Ronda. Very witty bird with its big eyes, looking posture and intense activity. It is beautifull and also hunts plenty of rare invertebrates all daylong… Blue Rock-Trush (Monticola solitarius) is my favourite bird and -sherry on the cake- it breeds in front of my balcony on the rooftop of the village.